| In 1948, at sixteen I enlisted in the Florida Army National Guard in my hometown, Jacksonville, Florida. I was issued a uniform and left the next day for 2-weeks summer camp at Camp Stewart, Hinesville, Georgia. We were an anti-aircraft outfit so for two weeks the experienced troops fired at radio controlled drones using .50 calibre machine guns and 40mm cannons. I watched, wishing my friends at home could see me now! I was hot stuff at sixteen. A few months later I tried to join the navy. My father went with me to the recruiting office to guarantee I was seventeen. The Navy didn't buy it. Records proved my true age and the recruiter later sent me this postcard. |
